If you owned or operated a yacht in 2023, one thing probably surprised you more than anything else. Like other folks, you probably stampeded to get a new satellite internet system as soon as they were available. And then, you quickly realized that it wasn’t going to replace your satellite TV system. Most marine satellite internet plans have data caps that are just too low to stream live TV. They’ll do fine for the occasional streamed movie, but if you plan on keeping the TV on a lot, they’re not very well suited.
And that’s why a lot of yacht owners have either kept their live TV service or turned it back on. Once you have the equipment in place, the monthly fee really isn’t a big issue and it’s a reliable way of watching TV with no overage charges or data caps. We’ve all learned that in 2024, you need both. It’s as simple as that.
A look at your marine satellite TV system
Here’s a diagram from Intellian’s user manual for its popular s6HD marine satellite system.
I’ve made one change to it to make my point. The original diagram didn’t show a plug coming from the ACU, but regardless of the diagram, you absolutely need to connect it to your boat’s 12 volt power system. (You need to plug in the receiver too, I just didn’t bother with showing that.)
That’s right, you need to plug the dish into power, you need to plug the ACU into power as well, and you need to plug the receiver and TV into power. Every individual thing needs power.
This is a change from the older or simpler versions of satellite systems where the ACU would power the dish. Why would Intellian make a change that requires more wiring and more complexity?
The answer is simple, really
If your satellite dome requires a separate power supply, it’s probably due to some industry-standard equipment that needs to be powered separately. In the case of the s6HD, it has a standard DIRECTV SWM module that allows it to communicate with modern DIRECTV boxes. This is a mandatory piece of equipment for any DIRECTV system in current manufacture.
The power supply is there because the SWM module itself is pretty much unchanged from the way it’s used in regular residential setups. Intellian did not engineer its own SWM module for marine use, because they didn’t have to. The SWM works well in outdoor environments, runs cool enough so that it can be enclosed, and does exactly what it should do: provide you a usable satellite signal.
Why can’t the whole thing be powered by the ACU?
In order to supply enough power to the satellite dome from the ACU, it would have to be re-engineered and would have to pull more DC power from the boat. Intellian’s ACUs are rock solid and they’ve opted not to make this change. It’s always possible that a future ACU would include this change. I personally doubt it because the ACUs are used all over the world and this specific issue only affects US DIRECTV satellite domes.
Personally think that while it’s interesting that you need power close to the dome, it’s not a huge issue. You can have the AC power anywhere within about 50 feet from the dome and run a longer coaxial cable. This means that you’re not exposing an AC power connection to the elements. It also means that it’s really not that more difficult of an installation. You’re already routing one coax cable up there. All you have to do is route a second one.
Need more info? Ask the marine experts
No one in the world has done more satellite activations than Signal Connect. We’re the leader in marine technology. Why? Because of our awesome customer service. We have technicians available to help with problems when you need us (even though it won’t be that often.) Our team knows how to navigate through whatever you’re going through. We also know how to work with DIRECTV and DISH to make sure your account is set up right.
When you’re ready for the kind of service you deserve, give us a call! We ask that the first contact be during East Coast business hours. That way, we can connect you with the right person for your needs. Once you get to that person, ask them for their direct contact information and the hours they’re available. A lot of our folks are available by cell 24/7. We’re here to take care of you.
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